Device for overcoming stuttering



NOV. 9, 1937. w GLISSON 2,098,867

DEVICE FOR .OVERCOMING STUTTERING Filed Ap ril 16, 1936 W B,6'li55071 (IMAM/ ,1

Patented Nov. 9, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in devices for facilitating the overcoming of defective speech or stuttering.

' The primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved device adapted to be placed in the mouth, which will suppress the action of those muscles of the mouth which are responsible for stammering or stuttering speech.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the above described character which is so designed that it will retain its place in the mouth and will not interfere with the movements of the tongue by itself moving up and down or about in the mouth, but will retain its position and be effective to control the tongue muscles so that the same may be made to coordinate with the sounds produced by the vocal chords.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification, with the understanding, however, that the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawing but may be changed or modified so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawing:-

Figure 1 is a View illustrating the position assumed by the device embodying the present invention in the mouth.

Figure 2 is a view in perspective of the device.

Figure 3 is a view of the device in rear elevation.

Figure 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, wherein like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the device embodying the present invention is indicated generally by the numeral I, and is shown in Figure 1 in the position which it assumes when in the mouth. The device comprises the body 2 which is preferably formed of some suitable heavy metal, such as lead, which body is relatively long and has a flat bottom or under surface 3 with the forwardly converging side faces 4 and the rounded forward end or point 5. The top surface 6 of the body inclines downwardly and forwardly from a relatively thick upstanding rib or wall 1 formed across the back and the rear face of this wall and the back of the body is slightly concave, as illustrated in Figure 3, and indicated by the numeral 8. The forward face of the wall is also slightly concave, as indicated at 9, and the top surface is centrally depressed to a very slight extent-as indicated at ID, in Figure 3.

Extending laterally from the sides of the bod Z are the arms, which are indicated generally by the numerals i I, and each of these arms is formed of a body of wire of suitable weight which has an end embedded in and extending from the back wall surface of the body adjacent the bottom thereof. The embedded end of each wire forming an arm H, extends first rearwardly from the body and then is curved to extend to one side forming the side portion l2. This side 15 portion at the outer end of the arm curves back at l3 to form the opposite side portion. M of the arm which has its end directed toward and spaced from a side 4 of the weight body at the rear thereof. The return portion [4 of each arm is disposed at an upward inclination from the outer end of the arm inwardly toward the body, as shown in Figure 3, so that when the device is placed in the mouth, the body will assume the position illustrated in Figure 1. 5

In using the present device, it is inserted into the mouth and the body portion 2 is disposed beneath the tip of the tongue, which is indicated by the numeral [5 in Figure 1. The point 5 is disposed against the back of the front teeth and 30 the depressed central part 8 of the back wall of the body presses against the portion N5 of the tongue which is known as the frenum linguae, this being the portion which attaches the tongue at the underside in the bottom of the mouth and controls the extent to which it may be moved about.

With the weight body 2 in the position described with the raised wall directed upwardly against the underside of the tongue, the arms I I will position across the teeth at the sides of the lower jaw with the portions l2 of the arms at the rear and the free portions M on the forward side of the device. Owing to the inclination of the portions M of the arms with respect to the portions I2, the weight body 2 is caused to assume the inclined position in which it is illustrated in Figure 1. While the rear face of the body 2 rests against and pushes back against the frenum, the tip 15 of the tongue lies over the rounded top surface of the wall 1 and has free movement in the area lying therebeneath and forwardly of the wall or, in other words, over the forwardly and downwardly inclined surface 6.

By means of this device, the muscles of the tongue are held so that they can be properly controlled in coordination with the sounds developed by the vocal chords and the character of the device is such that it will stay firmly in position and will not embarrass the user 'by V shifting aboutin the mouth.

I claim: 1 V V 1. A device of the character described, comprising a relatively long body of heavy material formed to position in the mouthbeneaththe tongue and having a forward end adapted to position against the back of the lower front teeth and having a back wall formed to press against the frenum of the tongue, and arm members each extending laterally from the body at the rear thereof and each including an attaching portion which enters the rear face of the body at one side of the frenum, thearms adjacent their outer ends being adapted to position 'upon the lower teeth of the jaw.

2.j A device, for overcoming defectivespeech, comprising an elongated body of heavy material formed to position in the mouth beneath the tongue and having a perpendicular wallacross its back end and having top and side faces ex -V tending forwardly in slightly convergent relation,

' the body when disposed beneath the tongue having said perpendicular wall engaging the underside thereof and the back of the wall pressing:

3. A device for overcoming defective speech,

comprising an elongated body of heavy material having a transversely 'rounded'end and adapted to positionin the mouth, the body tapering in vertical thickness toward said end, an arm extending laterally from each side of the body at its other end,. said body being designed to lie longitudinally of and beneath the tongue with said tapered end against the, inner sides of the lower front teeth, said arms being designed to rest attheir ends upon the tops of the lower jaw teeth, and there being an open area at the said other end of the body in which the frenum of the tongue positions. r

' WILLIAM BAXTER. GLISSON. 

